Sheet dividing and compiling machinery



Oct. 14, 1952 E. B. SULLIVAN 2,613,929

SHEET DIVIDING AND COMPILING MACHINERY Filed May 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDWARD B. SULLIVAN 1952 E. B. SULLIVAN 2,513,929

SHEET DIVIDING AND COMPILING MACHINERY Filed May 15, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 EDWARD B. SULLIVAN Patented Oct. 14, 1952 OFFICE SHEET DIVIDING AND COMPILING MACHINERY Edward B. Sullivan, Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 15, 1950, Serial No. 161,906

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improved collating or gathering in sheet dividing and/or compiling machines used in the printing art. United States Letters Patents No. 1,815,744 Sheet Dividing and Compiling Mechanism and No. 1,967,545 Sheet Dividing and Compiling Machinery disclose machines of this type.

An object of this invention is to provide means whereby the production rate of such machines is substantially increased.

Another object of this invention is to provide adjustabl means for aligning the lateral edges of the strips of paper to prevent overlapping of the sheets of one stack upon those of another as they are stacked upon an intermittently moving conveyor.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for quickly settling the strips of paper upon an intermittently moving conveyor in predetermined stacked arrangement thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for aligning ends of the sheets as they are delivered in side by side relationship to an intermittently moving conveyor and stacked thereon.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of mechanism for improving the timing cycle of a reciprocating carriage embodied in a collating machine of the type referred to above.

Another object of this invention is to provide means operating in synchronized relation to the reciprocating carriage of a collating machine for quickly settling strips of paper in spaced, parallel stacks upon an intermittently moving conveyor that travels transversely to the direction of the feed of sheets.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means whereby the stacking and aligning mechanism is actuated by and synchronized with the reciprocating carriage that feeds the sheets upon the conveyor.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a machine embodying a form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a presser element embodied in the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section taken on line III-4J1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a guide embodied in the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a guide such as shown in Fig. 4 and a mounting bracket therefor, embodied in the machine shown in Fig. 1.;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, partially broken away and partially in section, of a form of jogger mechanism embodied in the machine shown in Figs. 1 and '7 Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of a machine embodying the invention herein disclosed, the carriage and top side-frame elements having been removed;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the far side of the machine shown in Fig. '7 being a continuation thereof;

7 Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the jogger mechanism shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a form of webadapted to be operatedupon by machines embodying the invention.

Throughout the drawings and the specification like reference characters indicate like parts.

In operation of the machine, webs of paper 1 are fed in tandem to a feed table 2 from whence they are drawn one at a time by reciprocating carriage-borne grippers 3 through slitters 4 and 5 whereby each web is cut into a plurality of strips 6 of approximately equal widths. Each of the strips is held at its lead end by a gripper 3 as and while the web of paper is pulled thereby through the slitters 4 and 5. As the strips are drawn through the slitters they are positioned over an intermittently'moving transverse conveyor l, and their trailing ends are aligned by guides 8 located at the respective parting lines of the strips.

The grippers 3 are opened and the strips released at a predetermined position over the trans verse conveyor '1. The grippers 3 are then clear of the path of a presser 9 which quickly presses the floating strips of paper 6 downwardly onto the momentarily stationary conveyor i, thereby preventing drifting of the strips while same settle and come to rest transversely on the conveyor. The conveyor 1 is then advanced a distance substantially equal to the width X of one strip. The conveyor then receives the set of strips sli t from the next web, but since the conveyor has advanced th strip bearing a plurality of fives (5s) split from the second web is deposited upon the strip bearing a plurality of sixes (6s) split from the first web. As the conveyor is repeatedly. advanced in this manner, stacks of strips are started on the conveyor at one side --of the machine and discharged from it on the other after the series of strips have been accumulated in Se quence in a stack transversely of theconveyor l. While the strips are beingsettled on the conveyor by the presser 9, the gripper. carriage it completes its draw stroke, during a portion of which a resilient braking means ll slows or decelerates its motion. As the carriage l completes its draw stroke it actuates a jogger cocking mechanism I4, whereby joggers l and it are retracted from the edges of the conveyor.

The presser 9 is quickly raised from the conveyor when the strips have been firmly settled upon the respective stacks on the conveyor. As the presser rises, the reciprocating carriage H! commences its return stroke. At the beginning of the return stroke the energy stored in the resilient braking means ll during the final part of the draw stroke, is released to quickly accelerate the reciprocating carriage [0. The rapid acceleration of carriage [0 causes the joggers to jog more efficiently the opposite ends of the strips of paper in the various stacks on the conveyor to align the same thereon. The jogge mechanism will be described in greater detail infra.

The stacks of strips I! rest upon the conveyor transversely thereof and the strips 8 comprising the stacks I! are of a length y, which is equal to or slightly greater than the width of the conveyor I,

An example of a web adapted to be slit is shown in Fig. 10. The sheet I is fed into the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, so that the slitters 4 and 5 part the web along the dash lines Z into a plurality of strips which are to be assembled in a predetermined sequence.

As shown in Fig. 1, the machine includes a main frame 18 upon which is mounted a power driven cam shaft 19 from which the machine is driven and in timed relation to which the machine operates. Upon the main frame i8 is mounted a slitter head which comprises a plurality of pairs of cutters 4 and 5 mounted on shafts 20 and 2!. The ends of slitter shafts 20 and 2| are journaled in bearings 24 in side frame members 25. A pair of cutters 4 and 5 forms a slitter as they work together to form a rotating knife. The pairs of slitters are adjustable longitudinally of their shafts 20 and 2| in order that the number and width as of the strips 6 slit from the web of paper I may be adjusted. The top plan view in Fig. 7, shows the grouping of the pairs of rotary cutters 4 and 5 and their spacing along the shafts 20 and 21. Shafts 20 and 21 are driven through meshing spur gears 26, only one of which is shown. Each of these gears 28 is fastened to the shafts 20 and 2|, respectively, and cause the cutters 4 and 5 to rotate in opposite directions relative to one another. Shaft 20 is driven by a rack 2! pivotally secured to the reciprocating carriage ID, that meshes with the un-- derside of a pinion 28 secured to the shaft 20 for rotation thereof. During the draw stroke of the carriage If] the rack 27 through the pinion 2-3 rotates shaft clockwise, which through meshed spur gears 25 drives shaft 2! counter-clockwise, as shown in Fig. 1. On the return stroke of the carriage the direction of rotation of the respective shafts is reversed.

The carriage I0 is provided with rollers 29 that ride on rails 30 carried by the top side frame members 3| and 34. The lower face of each rail 30 is provided with a rack adapted to co-operate with pinions 35 secured upon a shaft 37 which is journaled in suitable bearings secured to the carriage Ill.

By means of the racks 35 and the pinions 35 the carriage I0 is maintained parallel to the slitter shafts 20 and 2| of the machine and cooking of the carriag is prevented.

Cams, not shown, are provided in a position in which they will engage a cam follower 38 (shown in Fig. 7) carried by an actuator lever 39. Lever 39 is secured to a gripper actuating bar 40, mounted on the carriage in parallel to the shaft 31. A stationary bar 4| is mounted parallel to and below bar 40. A plurality of pairs of grippers 3 comprising co-operating gripper jaws 3a and 3d are secured to bars 45 and 4! respectively, and adapted to be adjustable along the respective bars to positions substantially on lines centrally located between the web parting or slitting lines.

Means are provided for biasing shaft 40 (as shown in Fig. 1) for clockwise rotation. The form of biasing means shown in Figs. 1 and '7 comprises a spring 44 disposed between each pair of jaws 31L and 3d, biasing them toward gripping position. The jaws are actuated by depressing cam follower lever 39 thereby rockin shaft 40 (as shown in Fig. 1) counter-clockwise. The cam follower lever 39 is depressed by hornlike cams (such as shown in Fig. 1 of Patent 1,815,744 and designated in said patent and figure as 66 and 67), the under faces of which slope downwardly toward the respective ends of the cam follower paths. At each end of the stroke, follower 36 is depressed by the hornlik cams to open the gripper jaws 3a and 311. One of said cams (such as the one designated by reference character 66 in Patent 1,815,744) is a fixed cam secured adjacent to th left end of the rear face of the rear top side frame member 34 of the machine as shown in Fig. 1. A movable cam (such as the one designated by reference character 67 in Patent 1,815,744) is provided which is pivotally mounted and located in a similar position adjacent the slitter end of the machine and is adapted to be raised clear of the cam follower 38 as the carriage I0 reaches its maximum advance toward the slitters 4 and 5, in which position the next web I to be slit is lying on the feed table 2 with a margin 45 extending beyond the table 2 adjacent the slitters 4 and 5; said web also extending between the jaws of the grippers 3. The grippers 3 close and grip the web as the movable cam is raised by means (such as shown in Fig. 1 of Patent 1,815,744 wherein its respective parts are designated by reference characters 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75), comprising an edge cam disk (such as is designated 74) in Fig. 1 of Patent 1,815,744 securely mounted upon cam shaft 15, a cam follower lever (such as is designated by 71 in Fig. 1 of Patent 1,815,744), having one end adapted to follow the cam surface, its other end being pivoted on the frame l8 of the machine and pivotally secured at its center to a tie bar (such as is designated in Fig. 1 of Patent 1,815,744), the other end of which is pivotally secured to the movable cam.

The carriage iii may be reciprocated by any form of suitable mechanism. Such a mechanism may comprise a drive lever 45 having its lower end pivoted on the main frame at and its upper end fastened by a pivot 43 to one end of a link 29, the other end of said link being fastened by pivot pin 55) to the carriage if). A connecting rod 5i is fastened by a pivot pin 54 to the drive lever :25. Pivot pin 55 fastens rod 51 to the crank arm 55. Crank arm 56 is releasably mounted upon the cam shaft I 5 which is journaled in suitable bearings in the frame I 8.

The machine completes a cycle when it has received and slit a web and is at the point of receiving a'following web to be slit, and a cycle is completed during each revolution of the cam shaft [9.

5 The intermittently driven transverse conveyor I comprises shafts 5! and 58 on which drum sheaves 59 are mounted, and over which endless belts 60run. Shafts 5! and 58 are disposed adjacent the opposite sides of the machine in plane below top side-frame members 3i and 3t and the gripper carriage I0, and extend parallel to the line of travel of the carriage I0. These shafts 51 and 58 are journaled in bearings 05 and 84 outboard of the side frame members 3! and 30. The drum sheaves 59 may be adjusted lengthwise of shafts 5i and 58 so that the width of the conveyor 7 may be adjustedto suit the length y of paper strips to be handled thereby. The shafts 5i and 58 are provided with bevel gears 84 that mesh with bevel gears 85 mounted on a transverse drive shaft 61 journaled in bearings 68 mounted on main frame I8. Shaft 81 is intermittently driven through an overrunning clutch 69 by means of a crank It mounted on cam shaft I9 to which oneend of rack bar H is secured by a pivot pin M. The opposite end of bar II is provided with a rack I5 that is held in engagement with a spur gear 76 by means of a hanger Tl pivotally mounted upon the transverse drive shaft 31. Gear 16 is mounted upon a stub shaft I8 the outer end of which is journalled in a bearing l9 mounted in a bearing bracket 80.

As shown in Fig. l, the cam shaft I9 rotates counter-clockwise. The overrunning clutch 69 engages when rack bar ii is drawn toward the left end of the machine as shown in Fig. l, and is disengaged during the return stroke of the rack bar. The effective length of crank I may be adjusted by means of a screw 8I so that the length of each advance as of the conveyor '1', each time strips are deposited thereon, may be regulated. The travel of the conveyor for each advance is equal to the width of the strips indicated as x in Fig. 10. This is necessary to accommodate strips of different widths, though only a single width of strip is handled at any one time.

A clutch (such as is shown in Fig. 7 of Patent 1,815,744) is provided and is adapted to disengage crank 56, described supra, and a cam I36, described infra, from the cam shaft. The clutch may be controlled by a finger controlled linkage, the finger (such as is designated 124 in Fig. '7 of Patent 1,815,744) being adapted to drop below the surface of the feed table and cause the clutch todisengage when no web is in a position to be grasped by the grippers 3. Crank 58 controls the conveyor advance, and cam I33 controls the counter I85 as described infra, so that when disengaged conveyor advancing and counting ceases quickly and at the proper time to prevent omissions when no web is fed into and slit by'the machine. To accomplish this quick stopping, crank Eli is provided with a high spot on its edge that co-operates with a drag brake 82 pivotally to main frame I8 by pivot 82a, the drag being adjustable by means of screw 83 mounted m stub shaft 83a, whereby the conveyor I and counter I85 are rendered inoperative at the end of a cycle of the machine when the next web I tobe slit, is not in a position to be gripped by grippers 3. This disengagement will endure so long as a web is not fed into the machine. Therefore, compilation and counting are exact.

Ways 84 and 35 shown in Figs. '7 and 8, extend parallel to and in approximately the same plane asshafts i and 58 and are mounted upon the machine by suitable means such as bosses 8B and bracket 81. Bracket 81 has rods 88 extend-- 6 ing parallel to ways 84 and 85, adapted to be held in clampingbrackets 89. 1

A bar 93 having. a T-slot SIeXtending longitudinally of the bar,v is mounted transversely of the machine adjacent and parallel to the edge of the conveyor I8 as shown in Fig. l. The bar 98, as shownin Fig. 5,.is provided with suitable mounting means such as a block 95 having a bore st adapted to slidably receive way 84. A set screw 91 is provided for locking the bar 00 inthe position desired upon the way 84. Similar means adapted to co-act in like manner with way 85 are provided on bar 30. I

Guide members 5 are mounted on bar and a preferred form thereof is shown in perspective in Figs. 4 and 5. Guide 8 has. a web 99, a lower flange I88, a triangular or pointed fingerlike prong IHI extending upwardly of the upper edge of the web 39,.an upper flange I04 disposed laterally of finger I8I and parallel to flange I00. Guides 9 are fastened to bar 90 by means of a bolt I85 the head of which is slidably and mm rotatably retained in T-slot. IiI. Thus, the guide may be fastened to bar 90 by means of bolt I05 and a nut 1%, as shown. Guides 3 are fastened to bar 80 so that the tips of fingers I0! will be at the parting lines Z of the strips of paper as shown in Fig. '1.

After the grippers 3 on carriage I0 draw the paper web I through the slitters 4 and 5, the trailing strip ends are guided into alignment at predetermined positions on conveyor 3 by the fingers IOI of guides 8.

To preclude drifting of the airborne strips 8 as they would settle by gravity, the strips 8 are settled quickly upon the conveyor I at the predetermined positions by means of presser 9. A preferred form of presser is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Referring to Fig. 2, the presser 9 comprises a rectangular frameliil which may be made of bar, or angle bar stock as is shown in Fig. 2, and bands I08. Bands I08 run under the frame and over the ends of frame I01, and the ends of each band I08 are connected by a spring I09 on the upper side of the frame. The springs I09 hold the bands I08 under tension.

In Fig. 3 a band I08 is shown in section. Each band may be made of a strong textile tape or belting I I0 to the outer face of which is fastened a facing strip III of soft resilient material such as sponge rubber. The bands are installed on the frame so that the facing strips III are toward the strips of paper on the conveyor 1, that is, on the under side of the presser in the area where it engages the paper strips 6.

The presser is supported by vertically reciprocable lift rods H4 and H5. Frame Iiil, of the presser, is provided with brackets H6 and II? centrally of its ends. Brackets H6 and H? are mounted on frame I01 in spaced relation thereto by means of spacers II8 positioned between the bands I88, to provide clearance for passage of the central bands I080 about the ends of frame I01. Lift rods II and H5 are fastened to brackets H6 and II? by welding or other suitable means. The upper ends of the lift rods are held in spaced relation to each other by means of a spacer bar I I9 disposed therebetween. The lift rods-are slidably received by slide plates I20 fixedto the inner face of each of the topside frame elements 3I and 34 as shown in Fig. 1.

. The lift rods H4 and H5 are reciprocated by a parallelogram linkage I2! comprising bell cranks I24, crank arms I25, shafts I26 and IE1, connecting rods I28, links I29, crank arm I30,

connecting rod I3I, cam follower I34, and lever I 35. As cam wheel I36 secured on cam shaft I9 rotates therewith, cam follower I34 mounted centrally of arm I35a of crank arm I35 follows cam I36 rocking crank I35 clockwise (as shown in Fig. 1) about pivot 83a. Crank arm I351) is provided with a cam follower I350 co-actable with cam I31 on the edge of crank wheel 56 for rocking crank I35 counter-clockwise about piv t 63a as shown in Fig. 1. about pivot 83a lift rods H4 and H are lowered and raised by means of parallelogram linkage I2I and links I29, which are pivotally secured to spacer bar H9. The length of crank arm Ib is adjustable. Crank arm I35c is made in two pieces provided with a pivot bolt and a clamping bolt to facilitate adjustment of the timing of the presser. Cam I31 through the associated linkage and levers drives presser 9 downward and cam I36 drives it upward.

Mounted between the slide plates I28 is a spacer bar I38 to which are fastened a pair of coil springs I39 the opposite ends of which are secured to crank arms I49 fastened on shaft I25. The springs thereby help to lift the presser by a force counter-balancing the weight of presser 9. Cam I36 is timed to the release of strips from the grippers 3, so that the presser 9 is urged downwardly the moment the strips of paper 6 have been released, thereby pressing the strips firmly onto the conveyor 1.

The upper reach of conveyor 1 upon which presser 9 settles the strips is supported from below by rigid plate members MI.

The resilient braking means II adapted to cooperate with the gripper carriage-reciprocating means comprises a bent lever cam I44, fastened at one of its ends by means of a pivot pin I45, to main frame I8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. A rod I46 having an annular flange I41, is fastened at one of its ends by means of pivot pin I48 between a pair of flanges I49 fastened to bent lever cam I44 at a bend located centrally thereof, while its other end is received in an axial bore I59 of a sleeve I5I. Sleeve I5I has an annular flange I54 adjacent one end thereof in opposed relation to flange I41 and is fastened at its other end by means of a pivot pin I55 to a bracket I56 which is firmly mounted on main frame I8 by means of screws, welds, or in other suitable fashion. Resilient means which provide braking power are disposed between flanges I41 and I54, such as one or more helical springs I61 and I51a, disposed concentrically about rod I46 between flanges I 41 and I54, as shown in 6 Figs. 1 and 8. The cam surface, or edge face I58, of bent lever cam I44 is adapted to cooperate during the latter phase of the slitting stroke and early phase of the return stroke of the gripper carriage I0, with carriage drive lever 46 through cam follower I59 rotatably mounted upon drive lever 46. A limiting means such as stop pin I43 is provided to limit the upward movement of lever cam I44 in order that it will be in position to properly co-act with cam follower I59.

Drive lever 46 swings counter-clockwise as carriage I0 draws the web between the slitters. At approximately the mid point of its swing, cam follower I59 engages lever cam I44 and depresses same as cam follower I59 rides up on the cam surface I58. By this overriding and depression of the cam lever I44 the distance between pivots I48 and I55 is decreased, resulting in compression of the resilient elements or springs I51 and I51a As crank I35 is rocked.

between flanges I41 and I54. The compression results in increasing resistance to the depression of the cam lever I44 which in effect produces a braking action upon the carriage mechanism, or, in other words, an absorption of the momentum of the carriage mechanism by the springs I51 and I51o. As the carriage I8 commences its return stroke the force exerted by the resilient braking means II through the action of lever cam I44 and cam follower I59 on drive lever 46, supplements the force imparted through connecting rod 5I upon drive lever 46, thereby releasing part of the momentum energy stored in springs I51 and IBM to the carriage I0 in such fashion as to give a greater rate of acceleration to the carriage.

Figures 1, '1 and 8 show opposed joggers I5 and IS on either side of the conveyor 1. These joggers are shown more clearly and with a minimum number of other parts of the machine in association therewith, in Figs. 6 and 9, for the sake of simplicity of illustration and explanation. The joggers comprise J-section channel members I56 and NH each having a web I64 disposed between a narrow upper flange I65 and a wide lower flange I66. The channel is provided with depending bearing blocks I61 each having a bore I68 adapted to slidably receive ways 94 and 85, respectively. The bearing blocks I61 are positioned on the bars I60 and I6I so as to be co-actable with the ways just mentioned. As is shown in Figs. 6 and 9, the two bars are mounted with their open sides facing each other. Each bearing block I61 has T-slot I69 in the lower portion thereof. Bars I19 and Ill are provided with headed pins I14 at their ends and are pivotally joined at their centers and secured to the machine by a pivot pin I15, and are movable on the pivot pin with a scissors-like action. The headed pins I14 are slidably mounted in the T- slots I69. The jogger bars bein thus connected to levers I10 and I1 I, it is evident that when one lo ger bar is moved toward the conveyor 1 the other jogger bar is given a similar motion toward the conveyor; and that the reverse motion of the jogger bars takes place when one or the other of them is moved from the center towards the side of the conveyor. The bearing blocks I61 of bar I69 have a bar I16 suitably fastened thereto as by welding or any other suitable means. The end of bar I16 has fastened to it a C-shaped bar I11 and on the inner face of the riser section Illa of bar I11 a resilient pad I18 composed of a material such as rubber, is fastened. Pad I18 is located in a position where it may serve as a bumper for shaft 31 of carriage I9. On both sides of the master jogger bar I60 about each of the ways 84 and 85, partially compressed helical springs I19 and I98 are provided. Helical spring I19 disposed about the ways, has one end in abutment with bearing block I61, and its opposite end in abutment with bracket plate 81 which is stationary relative to the machine, whereby displacement of the master jogger bar I69 toward bracket 81 results in compression of spring I19. In a similar manner, spring I is disposed about the way with its ends in abutment respectively, with the opposite face of hearing block I61 and the face of adjustable collar IBI opposed thereto. Adjustable collar I8I may be clamped to the ways 84 and 85 by means of set screw I84.

As the carriage I0 passes through the final phase of the slitting stroke the shaft 31 engages the resilient pads I18 and draws the master jogger bar I66 toward bracket 8! and away from the edge of the conveyor 1, at the same time by means of the scissors-like mechanism which includes bars III] and III as its major parts, the slave jogger bar I 6| is driven in the opposite direction which is also away from the edge of the conveyor I adjacent to which the bar I6I is located. In their normal position and also in the retracted position at least a portion of each of the lower flanges I66 of the respective jogger bars, at all times remain subjacent to at least a portion of the conveyor I. In the retracted position the distance between the lips of the upper flanges I65 are spaced apart a distance greater than the length 3/ of strips 6 deposited upon the conveyor I. As the carriage I commences its return stroke the before-described braking mechanism, co-acting with the drive lever 46 through cam I44, causes a greater acceleration of the carriage than normally would ocour, and this rapid acceleration results in quicker release of the jogger bars I66 and I 6| causing them to oscillate. The oscillation continues for a period of time as the master bar I60 bounds and rebounds under the action of springs I19 and I36. The momentum-storing mechanism tends to level the load on the driving motor (not shown) and provides smoother and better operation of the machine. During the oscillation of the jogger the bars I68 and I6I thereof beat the web sections I64 thereof against the ends of the strips of paper 6 as they lie stacked upon conveyor I. This beating results in slight shifting of the strips 6 laterally of the conveyor I and accomplishes alignment of the ends of the strips 6.

In connection with the machine, a counting mechanism I85 may be employed as is shown in Figure 1. Counter I 85 may be mounted on brackets I86 upon the top of the upper side frame member 3 I, said counter being preferably actuated by a rod I87 and an extending finger I88 integral with crank arm I30. Each cycle of the machine produces one collated group of sheets and includes one depression of the presser 9, which. of necessity also involves a single downward and return stroke of arm I36.

The machine described and illustrated in the foregoing detailed description and drawings, em-

bodies what now appears to be a preferred form of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction as illustrated and described except as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various modifications or changes may be made, without departing either from the spirit or the scope of the invention.

Therefore, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for collating a plurality of strips of paper in stacks on an intermittently moving conveyor, comprising a drive mechanism for advancing the conveyor step by step, the length of each step being approximately equal to the width of a strip of paper, means for feeding simultaneously in tandem fashion a plurality of parallel strips of paper and releasing them over and above the conveyor in said parallel relation, means operating in timed relation to the feeding means for causing the strips to be released over and transversely of the conveyor while the conveyor is at rest, a strip settler disposed above said conveyor and covering the area of said plurality of strips, means for alternately lowering said settler onto said strips and pressing them against said conveyor and raising the same to an elevation above a plane containing the feeding means for said strips, and means for actuating said lowering and raising means in timed relation with the feed of the conveyor so that the settler completes each of its down strokes while the conveyor is at rest.

2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the settler comprises frame members extending transversely of the conveyor and so spaced as to be on opposite sides of a. group of said plurality of sheets, and that spaced bands are yieldingly mounted on and secured to said frame members and form a resilient surface for said settler which surface engages the strips of paper and settles them on said conveyor.

3. A machine according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the settler comprises a frame whose lateral and longitudinal dimensions are substantially coincident with the corresponding dimensions of said plurality of groups of sheets and that the surface of said frame adjacent the conveyor has secured thereto a covering of resilient and yieldable material whereby when it engages said sheets of paper they are theconveyor is at rest.

5. In a machine for collating a plurality of strips of paper in stacks on an intermittently moving conveyor, comprising a drive mechanism for advancing the conveyor step by step, the length of each step being approximately equal to the width of a strip of paper, means for feeding in tandem fashion transversely of the conveyor a plurality of parallel strips of paper and releasing them over the conveyor, means for causing the feeding means to release the strips above the conveyor while the conveyor is at rest, a strip settler disposed above said conveyor and covering the area of said plurality of strips for depressing the strips against and depositing them on the conveyor, means for alternately lowering said settler onto said strips to press them against said conveyor and raising the same to an elevation above a plane containing the feeding means for said strips, means for actuating said lowering and raising means in timed relation with the advance of the conveyor so that the settler completes each of its down strokes while the conveyor is at rest, a jogger mechanism adapted to engage the opposite ends of the strips on said conveyor, and means for causing said jogger mechanism to oscillate to and from engagement with said strip ends thereby to align the sheets in vertical stacks on said conveyor.

6. A machine according to claim 5 characterized by the fact that the strip feeding means comprises a carriage disposed above said conveyor and mounted to move transversely thereof, said carriage having spaced pairs of normally closed jaws thereon one pair of each strip, means for reciprocating said carriage transversely of the conveyor, means for opening said jaws to receive therein the end of a strip of paper, means for closing said jaws on said strip as the carriage moves in the direction of feed whereby the strips are drawn across the conveyor, and means operating in timed relation with said conveyor for opening said jaws when the conveyor is at rest and. the strips are crosswise of the conveyor to thereby release the strips above and over the conveyor.

7. A machine according to claim characterized by the fact that the strip feeding means comprises a carriage disposed above said conveyor and mounted to move transversely thereof, said carriage having spaced pairs of normally closed gripper jaws thereon one pair for each strip, means for reciprocating said carriage transversely of the conveyor, means for opening said pairs of jaws to receive in each pair the end of a strip of paper, means for closing said pairs of jaws on the strips as the carriage moves in the direction of feed whereby the strips are drawn across the conveyor, and means for opening said jaws when the strips are over the conveyor to release the strips on the conveyor, said opening means being timed to open said pairs of jaws when the conveyor is at rest, and that the jogger mechanism comprises a plate disposed adjacent one side of the conveyor and in position to engage the ends of the strips on that side of the conveyor, an abutment adjacent the ends of the strips on the other side of the conveyor, yielding means disposed to normally urge said plate to a predetermined position, and means connected to said plate and disposed to be bumped by said carriage when the pairs of gripper jaws thereof release the strips in position to be deposited on the conveyor for causing said jogger plate to oscillate into and out of engagement with the adjacent ends of said strips.

8. In a sheet dividing and compiling machine having an intermittently moving conveyor belt and means for depositing a plurality of spaced strips of paper thereon and a strip settling mechanism for causing said strips to quickly come to rest on said conveyor, said mechansm comprising an open frame, a plurality of bands on the frame, means for yieldingly holding said bands on the frame under tension, means for mounting said settling mechanism for vertical reciprocating movement upon the machine in a plane above said conveyor belt, subjacent support means for the conveyor belt disposed to support said conveyor belt when the settling mechanism is actuated downwardly onto the same, means for actuating said settling mechanism toward the conveyor belt in timed relation with the feed of strips onto the conveyor belt, whereby the settling mechanism presses the strips of paper downwardly and deposits them upon the belt, and means for stopping the conveyor belt when the settling mechanism descends upon the same.

9. A machine according to claim 8 characterized by the fact that the paper engaging faces of said bands are covered with sponge rubber.

10. In a sheet dividing and compiling machine having a frame, a carriage, a drive lever pivoted to the frame, a link having one end thereof pivotedly attached to the carriage and the other end thereof pivotally connected to the drive, means for actuating the drive lever to impart reciprocating motion to the carriage, a cam lever pivotally attached to the frame, said cam lever having a cam surface at a location removed from its pivot, a cam follower mounted upon the drive lever and adapted to engage and follow said cam surface, resilient means supported by said frame and adapted to increasingly resist movement of the cam lever by said cam follower as the cam lever turns on its pivot from one position to another, whereby a braking force of increasing magnitude is applied to said drive lever as it approaches the position where the carriage nears the end of its travel in one direction and for accelerating motion of the carriage at the commencement of its movement in the reverse direction.

11. In a sheet dividing and compiling machine having a frame upon which are mounted a feed table, a plurality of spaced slitters, a conveyor arranged for intermittent movement transversely of the cutting line of the slitters, a carriage mounted for reciprocating motion above the conveyor, normally closed grippers mounted on the carriage and movable between adjacent slitters to grasp a paper sheet positioned on the feed table, means to first open and then close the grippers adjacent the slitters and to again open the grippers adjacent the remote side of the conveyor for pulling the sheet through the slitters and depositing the severed portions of the sheet upon the conveyor: the improvement which comprises a pair of ways extending transversely of the conveyor, a jogger bar slidably mounted on the ways in parallel relation to the line of coneyor advance, opposed resilient means disposed on each side of the jogger bar, adjustable means for holding the ends of the resilient means remote from the jogger bar, means adapted to be engaged by the carriage to retract the jogger bar from the conveyor as strips are deposited thereon and then release the same upon the return stroke of the carriage, said resilient means being operable to oscillate said jogger bar against the ends of the strips on the conveyor to cause said strips to com to rest in a predetermined position on the conveyor.

12. In a sheet dividing and compiling machine having a frame upon which are mounted a feed table, a series of co-operating slitters, a conveyor arranged for intermittent movement transversely of the cutting line of the slitters, a carriage reciprocable transversely above the conveyor, a drive lever pivotally supported adjacent one of its ends on said frame, a tie link connecting the drive lever and the carriage, means for oscillating the drive lever about its pivot, whereby the carriage is reciprccated by said link, normally closed grippers mounted on the carriage and movable between adjacent slitters to grasp a sheet positioned on the feed table, means to first open and then close the grippers on said strips while the same are adjacent the slitters and to again open the grippers adjacent the remote side of the conveyor whereby the strips are drawn across and deposited on the conveyor: the improvement which comprises in combination a pair of ways extending transversely beneath the conveyor, amounting and support member slidably mounted on the Ways transversely of the path of paper advance from the slitters to the conveyor, means for precluding sliding of the mounting and support member on the ways, a plurality of pointed guiding fingers mounted point upward upon the mounting and support member at the paper-slitting line for aligning the trailing ends of the paper strips as they are moved toward their respective stacks upon the conveyor, a settler comprising a frame, a plurality of bands having a sponge rubber facing on at least the outwardly disposed faces thereof, means for yieldingly holding said bands about the frame under tension, means for mounting said settler above the stripreceiving portion of the conveyor, subjacent support means for supporting the conveyor at the strip-receiving portion of the conveyor, means for actuating the settler toward the conveyor in timed relation to the release of the slit strips from the grippers thereby to quickly bring the strips to rest upon the respective stacks, means for raising the settler to its raised position, a cam follower mounted on the drive lever, a cam lever bent centrally thereof in an obtuse angle and having one of its ends pivotally attached to the frame and having a cam surface adjacent to its other end adapted to co-act with the cam follower, resilient means disposed between the frame and the cam follower, a pair of opposed jogger bars adjacent the lateral edges of and parallel to the line of advance of the conveyor and slidably mounted on the ways, opposed resilient means disposed laterally of the jogger bar, means for adjustably fixing relative to the machine the ends of resilient means remote from the jogger bar, means adapted to be engaged by the carriage during the portion of its cycle remote from the slitters, whereby the jogger bars are retracted from the conveyor as the lever cam brakes the drive lever motion and as the carriage commences its return stroke the brake lever imparts a catapulating force through the drive lever to the carriage for suddenly releasing the jogger bars and causing them to oscillate against the stacks of strips on the conveyor to align the same thereon.

EDWARD B. SULLIVAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

